Sensitivity study of risk to future generations associated with the Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste in the Jebel-Al-Dhanna salt dome

The disposal of Higher Activity Wastes, particularly long lived Heat Generating High Level Waste (HG-HLW) such as Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) is one of the biggest challenges encountered by the peaceful civil nuclear energy industry. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has emplaced laws and instituted a policy in which geological disposal is a potential choice for SNF disposal. Available geological data in the public domain provide initial indications of geological environments that might be suitable to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in the UAE. This paper aims to present an indicative preliminary Performance Assessment (PA) demonstrating radiological dose and risk estimations from hosting a GDF in the Jebel al Dhanna (JAD) location consisting of an Evaporite geological environment in the form of a Salt Dome (Diapir) that protrude above the surface. Modelling the dispersion of harmful radionuclides from the GDF hosted at the JAD location is achieved by utilising GoldSim's Contaminant Transport code, which has successfully provided an evaluation of radiological risks to current and future generations from the disposal of the UAE's forecasted SNF inventory. The developed GoldSim model highlights the migration of radionuclides from within disposed waste packages, past the engineered barrier system (EBS), through the surrounding geosphere or the Natural Barrier System (NBS), reaching a reference receptor. Due to the lack of detailed and site specific data, analyses presented in this paper are to be viewed as generic and are not to be utilised directly as a site selection tool. The analyses presented are expected to go through several revisions and development stages once sufficient site specific data is made available and will then be presented in, and be a part of a UAE site specific safety case report. The analyses presented in this paper are not meant to be used in site selection decision making or in the assessment of the suitability of the location to host a GDF for nuclear waste. The selection of a site for a GDF in the UAE is a matter for the UAE Government and depend upon a more detailed analysis of site-specific conditions.